Newcastle v Reading

Adam Le Fondre came off the bench to score twice in six minutes as Reading completed a superb turnaround to beat struggling Newcastle.

The hosts were well on top and took a first-half lead when the impressive Yohan Cabaye curled in a free-kick.

But after Pavel Pogrebnyak went close, Le Fondre scored with his first touch, turning in Jimmy Kebe's low cross.

And he earned Reading's first away win of the season when he gathered Kebe's nod-down to steer past Tim Krul.

Reading finally win at Newcastle

The result was the Royals' first ever win at Newcastle in eight attempts dating back to 1900

The comeback was reminiscent of Reading's incredible effort against West Brom last Saturday when they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with Le Fondre also playing a key part.

Their first victory at Newcastle boosted the Premier League survival chances of Brian McDermott's side, leaving the Magpies without a win in six games.

Just two points now separate the teams and, as much as the three points will encourage the Royals, it will also depress a Newcastle side who were on top for large parts of this match.

Much of that was down to Cabaye, making his first start for Newcastle since 11 November, during which time Alan Pardew's side have won twice in 11 Premier League games.

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Newcastle never got going - Pardew

But Reading capitalised as he tired, and was eventually withdrawn to boos from the home supporters, to win for the third time in four league games.

Cabaye's passing and well timed breaks forward had the Reading midfield turning from the start and it kept the visitors' defence busy too.

After testing Federici from long distance, the France midfielder delightfully picked out Papiss Cisse with a flighted diagonal pass but the Australian keeper clawed away the striker's header. Cisse had two further efforts but again Federici did exceptionally to keep them out.

Reading were willing to let Newcastle dominate possession and break on the counter and they almost took the lead when a sweeping move ended in Pogrebnyak sliding the ball wide from 12 yards from Garath McCleary's cross.

Newcastle's struggles

The Magpies have won only three of their 18 league games since former Reading boss Alan Pardew signed his eight-year contract in September. The first game of that run was a 2-2 draw with the Royals

Despite Newcastle's probing, Reading were proving tough to break down but that changed when Cabaye carved them open to take the lead. It was his pass that led to the free-kick, from which he stepped up to nonchalantly curl the ball over the wall and beyond Federici.

Reading have struggled away from home all season but were inches from equalising via a Jonas Gutierrez own goal shortly after the interval when Ian Harte's free-kick clipped the Argentine's knee and fizzed past the far post.

With snow showers continuing at St James' Park, the visitors did not look like scoring until Le Fondre, so often a threat from the bench in Reading's promotion push last season, was introduced.

The substitute was on the field for less than a minute before he bundled home Kebe's low right-wing cross as the ball bounced off his chest.

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'Instinctive' Le Fondre delights McDermott

Le Fondre did not know much about it as he slid in after Mike Williamson missed the ball, but it was his ninth goal of the season and he reached double figures six minutes later.

This time Jobi McAnuff crossed from the left, Kebe nodded it back and although debutant Hope Akpan miscued, it fell to former Rotherham striker Le Fondre, who squeezed the ball past Krul at the near post.

Newcastle struggled to respond and their second half was summed up when Cisse beat the offside trap to fire horribly over from 10 yards.

Reading boss Brian McDermott:
"We've looked at our away record and we've been in games, we've learned that you have to try and manage games at this level. We went to 4-4-2 to try and win the game, and I felt at 1-1 we had a major chance of doing it.

"But when you have Adam Le Fondre coming off the bench like that, the second goal was top-drawer finish. A couple of years ago he was playing for Rotherham and what he is doing now for us, I'm just so proud of him."

Shot from just outside the area by Yohan Cabaye misses to the left of the target.

54:13

Corner from the right by-line taken by Yohan Cabaye, Mike Williamson takes a shot. Adam Federici makes a save.

54:00

The ball is delivered by Davide Santon, Ian Harte manages to make a clearance.

51:01

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye, clearance by Pavel Pogrebnyak. Effort from the edge of the area by Shola Ameobi goes wide of the right-hand upright. Free kick awarded for a foul by Yohan Cabaye on Danny Guthrie. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.

50:23

The ball is sent over by Papiss Cisse, clearance by Adrian Mariappa.

49:33

Mike Williamson concedes a free kick for a foul on Pavel Pogrebnyak. Free kick taken by Ian Harte.

47:45

Garath McCleary has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

47:02

Danny Guthrie takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Davide Santon.

Mikele Leigertwood concedes a free kick for a foul on Shola Ameobi. Yohan Cabaye restarts play with the free kick.

20:44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez by Stephen Kelly. Yohan Cabaye delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing.

19:01

Davide Santon sends in a cross, Alex Pearce manages to make a clearance.

16:49

The ball is sent over by Jonas Gutierrez, save by Adam Federici.

15:02

The ball is sent over by Yohan Cabaye, Papiss Cisse takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici. Short corner taken by Sylvain Marveaux. Shot by Vurnon Anita from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

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Comments

I love it when football pundits refer to the North East being, ”...the hotbed of English football”; when referring to fans in that part of the country. The team takes a slump and the attendance drops both noticeably and considerably to 49,411. 8- )

well done Reading. Delighted for Brian Mcdermott especially. Top man,always straight to the point,with no excuses! On the other side at Newcastle,don't know whether i'd want so many Frenchmen in a relegation struggle, and still looking to buy more. The likes of Ben Arfa+Cabaye are undoubted talents, but we've seen at WC 2010 how French dressing rooms can implode,and subsequently give up the fight!

williamson and perch are the worst 2 players I have seen in a serious PL team for over 2 decades. if williamson can play as a center-back for NU and perch for holding midfielder, then everyone has a chance to do the same. these guys have no talent or whatsoever. They will get relegated if pardew doesn't wake up. and that gouffran guy from bordeaux he is pretty average too. flop of a transfer

I was speaking to a friend of mine last night who is a very close friend of Alan Pardon's and he says Alan tried to sign Le Fondle in the summer. Funny how things turn out.

I digress, this season has a feeling of deja vu about it. I fully expect Le Toon to go down this season as portly Mike puts ankle socks and Diadora t-Shirts on offer to recoup some of his losses over the coming seasons.

Best mention i sit along the line in the Milburn stand and the cross went out for the 2nd goal only Williamson appealed, he should have been going nuts at the linesman and ref. Linesman no where near level to the line, we were robbed. Though again atmosphere would have probably spurred reading on still.

Newcastle where the better team yesterday. its not going for us at the minute. For years we have believed the hype about being great fans. Newcastle are the worst fans around. For the last four home games we have been back to the end days of Booby R. The tension is horrendous and no matter what job you do that you don't perform well. Its so quiet its embarrassing. He took an injured player off!!!

1 good season and you get an eight year contract really not wise. Newcastle are better than relegation battlers though cabaye ameobi cisse ba (for half the season) Krul collicini ben arfa they should be at least top ten

Having been a St. James' season ticket holder for the last 5 years, i have to say, the atmosphere there is absolutely dire these days. The young kids and old "bovril drinkers" need to vacate and stay at home and moan while watching it on the TV. Leave the seats to those of us with abit of optimism.

Although saying this, i reckon our travelling support is one of the best in the league!!

@170 The clansman. If only it was that simple, but ex pros telling me what I have seen is like the local pictures asking if you want someone to describe the film to you when you are watching it. Seriously when you look at the Norths big three I doubt we could get a good team from the lot, we are all struggling and it is sad very sad.

Firstly, tell the defenders they have to mark the man who has just come on, job not done cause other player has went off. @89Kjud. Thanks for the spelling . Pity we could not talk football just as good.@152SuntanA Never heard of Yanga-Mbiwa, so he must be great. Never seen him in French team either

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